Fleas

[hOrZa]

Fleas can bite me all they want I have warfarin flowing in my veins

[ChrisB]

Have noticed a small red 'scabby' patch on Bubbles' neck this morning - I assume it is flea related although no other signs on her or the others.   Was worried about using Frontline as the patch is quite close to where it should be applied ?   Any advice appreciated.   Thanks.

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

I had a little *ahem* incident with Tiggy last year, she hadn't had a flea for over 6 years even though she was still allowed out for 5 of those years.  So as you can imagine I was as horrified as you are now to find she had fleas as an indoor cat    I blame my neighbours as they always let their cat jump in the window of the communal areas so it was allowed in the hallway which is carpeted, either that or she got it at the vets as she was going every month 

Always someone to blame Helen Couldn't possibly be us bad Mummies bringing them in

[Tiggy's Mum]

You'd better hope they don't bite you on the face, the mark left by them can take weeks to go away  

I had a little *ahem* incident with Tiggy last year, she hadn't had a flea for over 6 years even though she was still allowed out for 5 of those years.  So as you can imagine I was as horrified as you are now to find she had fleas as an indoor cat    I blame my neighbours as they always let their cat jump in the window of the communal areas so it was allowed in the hallway which is carpeted, either that or she got it at the vets as she was going every month 

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

If you were infested then you would deffo know it so try to sleep tonight!

Don't say that

[Millys Mum]

I dont know if its true or not but someone told me fleas are like gnats and only the females bite, i cant sex gnats so they all die   

If you were infested then you would deffo know it so try to sleep tonight!

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

When i was young i use to sit in the frontroom with my feet off the floor so i didnt get bitten. Then one day i decided not to wear socks so i could lure them in and catch them 

Hopefully the indorex will arrive tomorrow from VetUK and I can give the house a good clean.

I feel a bit better actually after seeing the flea and how small it is Bc of the pictures you see, I imagined a thing the size of my fingernail

[Millys Mum]

When you spray the house you need to do all rooms even if they dont have carpet. Go all round the skirting and do soft furnishings such as sofa, rugs, cushions etc.

When i was young i use to sit in the frontroom with my feet off the floor so i didnt get bitten. Then one day i decided not to wear socks so i could lure them in and catch them 

[crazycatz]

if u  de flea every 4/5 weeks without fail (even house cats ) then there shouldnt be any fleas or flea dirt
even if the other cats/kittens had fleas the fleas on your cat should be dead as soon as they jump on the cat

[Ela]

Just seen some Frontline spray  on e-bay (from USA, although says made in France) it says  for dogs, cats, puppies andkittens 8 weeks older. Yet in this country the spray can be used on kittens from 2 days old.

[CurlyCatz]

that is an awful story, you were flogging carpets to go into peoples houses that had FLEAS already in them 

i'll remember and get my indorex at the ready when i move house 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I used to work in a department store. Acres and acres of carpet - absolutely crawling with them!

I once saw a young mum place her baby on the floor while she was looking at some clothing. I called out to her to pick the baby up. She starting shouting and yelling at me saying the baby wouldn't harm the "precious" carpet.  She picked the baby up, still yelling at me.... then I pointed to the flea swimming in the baby's drool.      She stopped yelling at me then.

[Reynard]

I have two very big midge bites red and extremly itchy and the skin all round the red bits is swollen and hard like a boil The swollen bit is about as big as my little finger nail.

That's nothing - you ought to try harvest mite bites... As itchy as  they are - flea bites are nothing compared to this. I think I need some Frontline too. 

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

It's just the thought of them being on everything

And there's no point washing stuff till I get the indorex

Yuck yuck yuck, and you's 2 stop laughing at me

[Nick (Peanut & Boo)]

I have been bitten twice in the office two days running.I'm using my Boss's office as he is on holiday  They tend to bite where the body is hottest and the blood is near the surface like the crook of the elbow orback of the knee and the chest armpit areas. I have two very big midge bites red and extremly itchy and the skin all round the red bits is swollen and hard like a boil The swollen bit is about as big as my little finger nail.

I think I'll need to frontline myself tonight lol

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

if they bite us what does a bite look like? red swollen i imagine?...

A small red spot like a midge bite - as Lynn said. If you see a group of three or four or more in a straight line, it'll be fleas. They can't walk forwards, only sideways, you see... 

[CurlyCatz]

well thats just great..you keep your finest doon there, far too fine for the likes o north east teuchters  


i used to spray myself with nuvan everyday nearly before going home, i must be immune to organophosphates  


if it bites just abit like a midge bite, yer leg winna fall off dont worry 

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

  Sarah, but try getting out of the bath and seeing a ring of fleas around it after you've dealt with a stray. 

you are kidding

if they bite us what does a bite look like? red swollen i imagine?...

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

we've got scotlands finest thanks

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I remember the bad old days before Frontline....  All we used to have as powder and aerosols like Novan - all of which the cat would run for it life at the very site of!  They even knew when you cam near them with a cotton wool soaked in the stuff - they just hated the smell of it and would scratch you trying to escape.

I've had to brush out fleas manually from battered, bedraggled and tatty strays because they were too ill to spray with anything.

  Sarah, but try getting out of the bath and seeing a ring of fleas around it after you've dealt with a stray. 

[CurlyCatz]

eeewww no ta, i'm nae havin weegie fleas up here 

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

You better watch out or I'll bring you a few up

[CurlyCatz]

sarah frontline is great but it prob takes a day or two to work 

Sorry i think the flea threads are so funny, you lot that let your cats get fleas should be strung up 

as always susanne and helen for sure agree with me     

[Sarah (seldom_use)]

Just a moan really..

Yesterday at the vets they found some flea dirt on Charlie Couldn't find any fleas though, so he was fronlined there and then.

Tonight I seen my first live flea It was just sitting on the top of his fur, wriggling, I shouted on OH to get it, he squashed it between his fingers and put it in water

Anyways, I have ordered some Indorex and more frontline for the other two. Gives me the creeps though, last night I was scratching for hours bc I was dreaming I was covered in fleas, woke up the OH at 4am to "check me for bites"

Lynn suggested yesterday that they may have come from the foster kittens I had which is probable. (My Mum has been informed and has taken them to the vet today.)

Anyone any tips for spraying the house etc? And also, how many fleas are usually on a cat to begin with, I know that sounds a silly question, but if they haven't been there for long..

Oh, and finally.. If Charlie was frontlined yesterday, why wasn't that flea dead today? How long does it take to work.

He's back at the vet tomorrow, so any advice appreciated